Clinical Careers

Thursday, April 16th, 4:00-5:00 interview with Dr. Naomi Coleman Medina

Naomi Coleman Medina, PhD, LPC-S is an Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Psychology at Texas State University. She also serves as the Pre-Clinical Career Advisor for the Department of Psychology, and in this role, assists students in learning about various clinical professions and the paths that will serve them in reaching their clinical career goal. Dr. Medina is also a member of the adjunct faculty in the Department of Counseling at Texas State University and the Department of Counseling, Kinesiology, and Health at Texas A&M San Antonio. Classes she teaches are Forensic Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychopathology, Health Psychology, Basic Skills in Counseling, Counseling Diverse Populations, Advanced Ethics, Assessment, Theories of Counseling, Professional Counseling, and Counseling Diverse Populations. Dr. Medina’s research interests pertain to the natural world and its impact on human flourishing and psychological well-being. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and owns Metamorphosis, a private counseling practice where she offers nature-based therapeutic interventions and provides Walk Talk therapy. Dr. Medina is also a fitness coach and grows orchids for her therapy.

Thursday, March 5th, 1:30-2:30 interview with Dr. Jon Lasser

Dr. Jon Lasser is a University Distinguished Professor and Regents’ Professor in the School Psychology Program at Texas State University. He holds a master’s degree in Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. His books include Tech Generation: Raising Balanced Kids in a Hyper-Connected World (Oxford University Press), and a series of social-emotional learning books with the American Psychological Association’s Magination Press (Grow Happy, Grow Grateful, Grow Kind, & What Boys Do).

Monday, March 2nd, 3:00-4:00 interview with Dr. Ariel McField

Dr. McField was born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Addiction Studies at the University of Central Arkansas. She later earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Ph.D. in Clinical Adolescent Psychology from Prairie View A&M University. Following her pre‑doctoral internship at the Boys Town Behavioral Health outpatient clinic, she began her academic career at the University of Texas Permian Basin. She served there as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology for two years. She is now an Assistant Professor at Texas State University, where she teaches Cross-Cultural Psychology and Psychopathology.

Clinically, Dr. McField has worked with individuals spanning early childhood through late adulthood across a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, counseling centers, and VA. Her clinical work primarily focuses on adolescents with a history of suicidal ideation and behaviors.

Tuesday, February 24, 1:30-2:45, Interview with Dr. Chelsey Wooten, Ms. Bacak, Ms. Stokes-Batts on Social Work

Ms. Brittany Bacak

Ms. Bacak is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Texas State University. Her practice experience focuses in working within acute medical care settings with those undergoing mental health crisis or coping with a variety of psycho-social stressors including those related to financial or housing instability, substance abuse, neglect, physical and sexual assaults and/or abuse, and families of patients having undergone a trauma or critical life events. Ms. Bacak enjoys helping students apply social work theories and skills in practice settings.  

Ms. Stacy Stoke-Batts

BSW & MSW Lecturer, School of Social Work, Texas State University 

Advisor, Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society – Alpha Chi Chapter, Texas State University 

Advisor/Founder, The Echoes A Cappella Group, Texas State University 

Chelsey Wooten, PhD, LPC

Dr. Wooten has been serving at Texas State University since 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Instruction and Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Director at Texas State University. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of the Arts in Sociology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, in 2014. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Counseling where she specialized in Forensic Psychology from Adler University located in Chicago, IL, in 2017. Dr. Wooten completed her Ph.D. in Social Work from Louisiana State University in December 2022 where she specialized in Child and Family Studies. Her clinical areas of interest include a decade’s worth of practice experience in mental health, advocacy, and crisis intervention arenas serving as a victim’s advocate, crisis intervention specialist, and clinical therapist. Dr. Wooten’s research interests include using mixed methodologies to examine the interactions between marginalized groups and institutional systems (e.g., criminal legal system, the military, law enforcement, academia); as well as the effectiveness of trauma-informed and culturally sensitive interventions that aim to address race-related issues, racial and social traumas, posttraumatic stress disorder, disparities within institutional, forensic, and military spaces. Additionally, Dr. Wooten examines the impact of adverse experiences on the mental health and well-being of individuals from a holistic perspective on a micro (individual and family) and macro (policy) level with an interest in the auxiliary areas of her work including immigration, religiosity, and law enforcement.

TBD

TBD